"It's too bad!"
"It's an absolute shame!"
"Suppose we were to go after all," suggested Vera tentatively.
"But Phyllis would stop us."
"She won't see. She's taking the tent poles and walking up that path towards the hotel. She'll be round the corner in half a minute."
"Why, so she is!"
"If we're quick we could be beyond the point before she comes back."
"Then come along at once."
"Yes, don't let us waste a moment."
The four girls jumped up, and, hurrying off, went away round the rock with such record speed, that by the time Phyllis returned to fetch the remainder of the tent they were well out of sight. Imagining that they must have walked down the beach towards the village, Phyllis did not trouble to go and look for them, so the only person who knew the real direction they had taken was Patty, who happened to have overheard most of the conversation, and to have seen their hasty flight. Having examined as many sea anemones as she cared to, Patty climbed up a steep little track on to the cliff again, and spent a blissful half-hour by herself, lying in the sunshine on a bed of purple heath, watching the white sails of the boats in the distance, and a steamer far out on the horizon. From her point of lookout she had a very good view over the whole of the large bay. How fast the tide was flowing in! The sandbanks, which only ten minutes ago had gleamed yellow in the sunshine, were now covered with water, and a huge white wave appeared at the mouth of the estuary, advancing with threatening speed.